Lake Ashby Park

The birding experience at this county park begins with the entrance drive on Boy Scout Camp Rd. Watch for Wood Storks circling on thermals and Wild Turkeys under the oaks in adjacent pastures. The pine flatwoods along the road have White-eyed Vireos and Pine Warblers. Once at the parking area, leave your car and proceed to the trailhead at the southeast side of the lot. The trail through the oak hammock gets wetter with each step as it slopes down to the lake. Here, during songbird migration, the birding can be great. At the end of the trail, a boardwalk leads through the lake’s cypress margin (watch for nesting Prothonotary Warblers in spring) and heads out over open water before returning to shore on the other side of a cove. Use this vantage to look for soaring Bald Eagles, Limpkins and Sandhill Cranes at the lake edge, and hunting Ospreys plunging into the lake. A mile long equestrian trail leads off to the west side of the property; this trail is worth hiking on during spring and fall migration and you may get lucky and see a Gopher Tortoise plodding along. Please respect adjacent private property by not crossing fence lines. This park can get busy on weekends so plan accordingly.